Pumping apparatus



- July 2,1935- G. FERGUSON 1mm?1m APPARATUS Filed Aug. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-s l INVENTQ Gale L. Ferg n BY v w 1 ma 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Gale L (Fergusqrb BY l ATTORNE Patented July 2, 1935 'PUMPING APPARATUS Gale L. Ferguson, Euclid, Ohio, asaignor to Westco Pump Corporation, Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application August. 21, 1931, Serial No. 558,455

1 Claim.

This invention relates to rotary pumps, and more particularly to pumps comprising a rotor having a liquid impelling means such as a plurality of peripheral buckets operating in a liquid passage, and is a continuation-in part-of my copending application, Serial No. 438,465, filed March 24, 1930 and is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 458,437, filed May 31, 1930. I 7

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide simple and effective means for priming a pump of the rotary type having a pressure developing passage and a rotorcooperating therewith. 1 I 0 Another objectis to provide a rotary pump which is self-priming at all times, regardless of the time interval elapsing between the periods of use.

A further object is to provide a compact pump: ing apparatus of the rotary pressure building type which can be primed with a minimum of liquid and in which the elements comprising the priming mechanism require a minimum of space.

Another object is to provide a rotary pump with self-priming means of such construction that the priming liquid'enters the pressure developing passageway through a passage or passages, other than the outlet port of the pressure developing passageway.

A further object isto provide a rotary pump having a pair of mating pump rings that form a pressure building passageway with priming passages independent of the outlet that lead back to the pressure developing passageway through the pump casing and mating pump rings.

A still further object is to provide a rotary pump with the pressure passageway-forming rings of new and improved construction.

With the above and other objects in view which will be-apparen't'from the following detailed description, the present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts which will be readily understood by those skilled in theart to which the invention appertains. I I

In the drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rotary pump having the priming means incorporated therein,

a portion of the pump casing being broken away to show the construction of the interior of the pump;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3- -3 of Fig. 2;

Fig; 4 is an exploded top plan view of the pump rings and rotor showing the inlet, outlet and priming ports of the pump rings; 5

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of one of the pump rings, showing the passages in the opposite sides thereof; 1

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing a modified construction of the return passages;

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section showing a further modified construction of the outlet portion of the pump.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the pump casing l which is mounted on a suitable base 2 is provided with an inlet stub 3 and an outlet stub 4 having suitable 20 connections, here shown as internal screw threads, for receiving inlet and outlet conduits respectively. The casing is formed with a central bore 5 therein into which the passageways of the stubs 3 and 4 open. The bore 5 is closed in with a cover plate 6 which is secured to the casing by suitable cap screws 1. I

A pair of pump rings 8 and 9 are mounted within the bore 5 and are provided with mating annular grooves or channels 10 and II, respectively, which, when the rings are in position in the bore, form a pressure developing passageway A. The ring 8 is formed with a, circumferential flange of greater depth than the inner flange and which engages withthe outer flange of the other pump ring 9, to close the passageway therein and to provide a space between the inner flanges of the two rings for the reception of the pump rotor l2.

Each ring is formed, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, with a recess that opens into the groove thereof and which combines with the corresponding recess of the other ring to form an outlet port I! that communicates with the outlet passage ll formed in the outlet stub 4.

In order to insure that the fluid flowing into the pump will enter the pressure developing passageway A'at both sides or the impeller l2, a divided inlet is provided. This is accomplished by forming a port IS in the ring 8 and a recess 16 in the ring 5 which open into the ring grooves in and I I, respectively, and which communicate with 3the inlet passage ll formed in the inlet s u a as shown in Figure 5. each ring is termed with a stop means 24 between the inlet and outlet ports which engages with the sides of the impeller buckets and the widened flange of the ring 8 is also formed with a segmental portion II that engages with the periphery of the impeller. These stop means and segmental portion block oi! the pressure developing passageway in order that the fluid being pumped will be discharged through the outlet passageway.

The rings are held in their proper relative position within the casing bore by means of a suitable pin l8 that extends through recesses is formed in the outer circumferencesof the ring. and which extends into an opening formed in the casing I, as shownin Fig. 2.

The impeller I2 is mounted on a suitable shaft that is journaled in the casing I. Suitable packing 2| is carried by the casing which is held in position by a suitable packing ring 22. The impeller is formed with a plurality of marginal buckets alternately formed on its periphery which lie within the pressure developing passageway A, and the inner flanges of the pump rings engage with the impeller radially inwardlyof the buckets 23 with a running ilt to substantially prevent the leakage of fluid radially inwardly of the pressure developing eway A.

Itis tobenotedthatthemaindischargepassage that leads to the pressure developing passageway is of lesser diameter than the internally threaded bore of the outlet stub, "and thereby provides a shoulder 26 between the walls of the threaded bore and the passage ll. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of liquid return passages 21 are formed through the peripheral wall of the casing substantially parallel to the outlet passage II, and open into the space above the opening of the passage I I between the walls of the threaded bore and the passage ll. 'Ihese passages 21, of which there may be one orv more, form liquid return means for conducting liquid back.

to the pressure developing passageway for priming purposes. Each return passage 21 communicates-with the pressure developing vi through the sides of the pump rings 8 and i. Each ring is formed with a small aperture II through the bottom of its groove which leads to the outer side of the ring and communicates with a circumferentially arranged recess 20 in the outside of the ring.- The recess 29 of the inner ring 1 is closed in by the inner wallof the casing l, and the recess 29 of the outer ring 1 is closed in by the cover plate 8 which contacts with the surface of the ring 9. The circumferential walls of the rings 8 and 9 are notched out at 30- to place the recess 29 in communication with the downwardly extending return passages 21.

The apertures 28 are positioned in advance of the stop means preferably adjacent the outlet port i3. Considerable variation in the location of these apertures is possible, depending on such factors as the speed of the impeller and pump passageway sizes. But it has been found in passages of the character shown in the drawings, that the most eifective results are obtained when the apertures are formed adjacent the outlet port It. Thus, the water which is returned for priming purposes, as will be more fully described, follows a much shorter circuit than is the case in pumps where the water is returned adjacent the inlet. By the term "adjacent the outlet" hereinafter used, it is understood that this means a position removed from the main outlet port in a direction oppos te to the direction of rotation of the impeller. The enlarged threaded bore and the shoulders 2i permit a conduit having an internal diameter slightly larger than the passage II to be employed, and still provide a means whereby the water being discharged may flow back through the return passage 21 into the pressure developing passageway A.

In starting the pump, a small amount of water already being present in the pressure channel or having been originally introduced through a suitable priming plug (not shown), the water is expelled through the outlet passage H, but being insufllcient in quantity to pass out as a solid stream, some of the same passes through the return passages 21 into the pump ring recess 20. The movement of theimpeller past the apertures 28 sets up a suction in the recess 28 which adds to the gravitational eflect in returning the liquid through these es into the pressure developing passageway A. The small sizes of the passageways has a tendency to aid in the separation of the liquid from air, it being understood that in the priming states the proportion of air to water will be relatively high in the pressure developing passageway and in the inlet and outlet passages. In effect then, the impeller sets up an eilicient circulation of liquid through the limited return passages. Even with a small quantity of priming fluid a sufficient quantity is collected to startthe priming effectively and cause a suction which. extends back through the pressure developing channel and into the inlet passage and supply pipe. By reason of the elevated position of the inlet stub 3, it will be apparent that some water will always be present in the pump after the original starting, but by reason of the priming means here described the pump will be effective even if the amount of water so retained has been materially reduced by evaporation or leak- The pump rings 8 and 8 areprovided with apertures through which the pressure developing passageway A communicates with the interior portion of the casing outside of the pump rings. These apertures are preferably arranged at or substantially adjacent the bottom portion of the pump rings and provide means for permitting the water in chambers surrounding the pump rings to pass into the pressure developing passageway when the pump is started, affording more water for priming purposes and also to drain the pump when it is desired to do so. In Figs. 'I'and 8 of the drawings a modified type of liquid return passages i'sshown. In this construction the outlet portion'zof the casing immediately. above the pump rings-is formed with a narrow shelf portion 3!, the sides of which are formed with grooves 32 leading down to the notched portions that open up the recesses 29.

In'some cases it will be desirable to forma sort of retaining pocket for the liquid being discharged through the outlet stub. One means of accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 9, wherein an upwardly extending tube 33 is seated. within the outlet passage It. It will be noted in this construction that a quantity of water will be maintained around thetube 33 which can only return to the pressure developing passage through the return passage 21.

It has been proved by test that the pressure in the pressure developing channel is greater at the outlet than at the points where the priming liquid re-enters the pressure developing channel, and that as a result the liquid will maintain a positive circulation through the return passages 7 without these return passages acting as water discharge passages.

It is apparent from the drawings and foregoing description that an improved rotary pump is provided in which the priming is automatic and occurs regardless of how frequently the pump is used.

7 Furthermore, it is to be understood thatthe particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a rotary pump, a casing having a central bore, a pair of pump rings disposed within said bore, a cover plate clamping said rings against each other and against the end wall of said bore, each of said rings having an annular channel therein facing the other to form a pressure developing passageway, said passage having, inlet and outlet ports and stop means between said ports, said casing having inlet and outlet passages communicating withvsaid inlet and outlet ports, and an impeller between said rings and having side opening peripheral buckets at each side thereof extending into said passageway, said rings having liquid return ports through the walls thereof near said outlet port and liquid return grooves in their outer sides closed in by said cover plate and end wall and communicating with said liquid return ports, said casing having liquid return passages in the body thereof opening into said outlet passage and into said liquid return grooves. V

GALE L, FERGUSON. 

